PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ed Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Black
vs
Jones

185 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ed Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Jones!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Black tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Black drops back down to his feet.
Black blocks an elbow strike from Jones.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Black.
Jones looking to throw knees to the head but Black is blocking nicely.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Black avoids the damage to the body.
Jones tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Black wants to take the fight to the mat but Jones manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jones with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jones prevents Black from breaking the clinch.
Black wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Black stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Black blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones working Black over with knees to the body.
Black on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but Black blocks with his arms.
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Black tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Black is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jones to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.
Jones lands a nice knee to the body.
Black wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Black stalling in the clinch.
Jones with a knee to the head.
Black wants to take the fight to the mat but Jones manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Black is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Black is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jones throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Black tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jones obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Black fails to pull guard.
Black missing with knees to the body.
Jones connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ed Black has been cut.
Jones connects with a knee to the head.
Jones scores a nice knee to the body.
Jones misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with an elbow over the top.
Black stalling in the clinch.
Black tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jones throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jones with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Black tries to circle away but Jones has him pinned against the cage.
Black has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jones after a bit of a struggle.
Jones crunches a lovely knee into Black's ribcage.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Black is trying to break the clinch but Jones is controlling him.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Black is defending well for now.
Jones lands a nice knee to the body.
Black is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Black is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Black wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Black looking to slow down the pace here.
Black misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jones with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Black avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Black fails to land.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones misses with a knee to the head.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Black is defending well for now.
Jones misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ed Black's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Black darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Jones lands an elbow inside that Black shrugs off.
Black wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Black.
Black is looking for a takedown.
Jones tries a knee to the head but Black blocks it.
Black managing to block the knees to the body from Jones.
Aaron Jones seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Black avoiding damage as Jones throws knees to the body.
Black tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Black is defending well for now.
Black fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones tries a knee to the head but Black blocks it.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Black avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black looking for a takedown.
Jones has Black pressed against the cage, preventing Black from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jones avoiding damage as Black throws knees to the body.
Black has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jones looking to throw knees to the head but Black is blocking nicely.
Jones landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Black manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Black keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jones trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Black's guard.
Jones wants to pass to mount but Black is defending the position.
Jones working the head and body with strikes.
Black wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.
Jones is taking a breather. Black says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jones seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Black does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Jones decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Black pinned against the cage. Black gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Black misses with a low kick.
Jones fails with the takedown.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jones leaves Black with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Black tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jones is able to avoid easily.
A combination from Jones does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Black sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Black is just out of range.
Black looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
Jones leaves Black with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Jones showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ed Black's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Black takes the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Black's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Black tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jones just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jones with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Black is trying to push Jones away but Jones has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Black is defending well for now.
Black misses with a short punch on the inside.
Black blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jones landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Black tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones smiles and moves away.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Black swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jones wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Jones feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Black's calf.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Black tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Black manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Black.
Black fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jones avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick from Jones lands but Black takes it in his stride.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Black saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Black with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ed Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jones as he avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Black.
Black throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Black off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
Black throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Black off to one side.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Black fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Jones rushes Black and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Black has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aaron Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones closes the distance and clinches up with Black, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes Black against the cage but Black circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt - Black sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Black tries for a takedown but Jones sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jones closes the distance and clinches up with Black, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes Black against the cage but Black circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Black lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jones backs up against the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Black.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Jones.
Ed Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aaron Jones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aaron Jones.
Well Jones has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Jones!